Neurosurgery
-
Preservation of facial nerve function following vestibular schwannoma surgery is a high priority. Even those patients with normal to near-normal function in the early postoperative period remain at risk for delayed facial palsy (DFP). ⋯ CI, confidence intervalDFP, delayed facial palsyGTR, gross total resectionHB, House-BrackmannNFP, no facial palsyOR, odds ratioRS, retrosigmoidTL, translabyrinthineVS, vestibular schwannoma.
-
The blood-brain barrier represents a fundamental limitation in treating neurological disease because it prevents all neuropeptides from reaching the central nervous system (CNS). Currently, there is no efficient method to permanently bypass the blood-brain barrier. ⋯ ANOVA, analysis of varianceBBB, blood-brain barrierDLS, dorsal lateral striatumGDNF, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factorPBS, phosphate-buffered salinePD, Parkinson disease6-OHDA, 6-hydroxydopamineSNpc, substantia nigra pars compactaTH, tyrosine hydroxylase.
-
Case Reports
Ventriculosternal Shunting for the Management of Hydrocephalus: Case Report of A Novel Technique.
Conventional cerebrospinal fluid diversion such as ventriculoperitoneal or ventriculoatrial shunting for the management of hydrocephalus is one of the commonest neurosurgical procedures. However, in selected patients, surgical options are limited when relative contraindications for these operations exist. A patient who underwent ventriculosternal shunting, a novel procedure, is presented with durable and successful outcomes. ⋯ Ventriculosternal shunting for the management of hydrocephalus is a feasible, safe, and durable surgical treatment option for selected patients when conventional procedures are contraindicated.
-
Occipital neuralgia (ON) is a disorder characterized by sharp, electrical, paroxysmal pain, originating from the occiput and extending along the posterior scalp, in the distribution of the greater, lesser, and/or third occipital nerve. Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) constitutes a promising therapy for medically refractory ON because it is reversible with minimal side effects and has shown continued efficacy with long-term follow-up. ⋯ Based on the data derived from this systematic literature review, the following Level III recommendation can be made: the use of ONS is a treatment option for patients with medically refractory ON.
-
Case Reports
A Perforating Artery Compressing the Nerve Rootlet and Causing Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.
A surgical procedure for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) was selected from microvascular decompression, glossopharyngeal and upper vagal rhizotomy, or a combination of these procedures based on the presence of arteries compressing the glossopharyngeal and vagal rootlets. The offending artery is usually a main trunk or branch of the cerebellar arteries. A perforating artery is a known but uncommon variation of the offending artery that causes GPN. The appropriate procedure for such cases is unknown. ⋯ Even a small perforating artery can cause GPN when it compresses the rootlet. In such cases, mobilization of the perforating artery with no additional rhizotomy is an effective surgical option.